Now a strapped Cook County government is left with the final tab for
seven contracts -- five awarded under a federal energy grant to promote
the county's "green" initiatives and two to promote more than $10
million in federal 2008 flood relief, officials said.

That includes a contract given to CGC Communications Inc., the
public relations firm privately owned by Stroger's Deputy Chief of Staff
Carla Oglesby. She was hit with a one-week suspension for signing off
on the contract.

During Tuesday's meeting, officials revealed that grant
administrators rejected applications for reimbursement for those
contracts under investigation. Chief Financial Officer Jaye Morgan
Williams told commissioners that the county has "eaten" the costs.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer says this points to a gap in
the system, since it's clear contracts and checks were handed out before
anyone knew whether the grant would cover it.

"What I'd like to see happen from now on is before any grant dollars
are spent, we need to assess whether it's appropriate and reimbursable,"
Gainer said.